The Hip Hop Project

Matt Ruskin

Overview

Chris Rolle was born into poverty in the Bahamas and found himself forced to fend for himself as a child when he was abandoned by his mother. Rolle came to America in his teens but soon found himself homeless on the mean streets of Brooklyn, NY. Rolle had a natural talent as a rapper, and had the good fortune of meeting Scott K. Rosenberg, who was the founder of Art Start, an organization that brings arts education to New York City's underprivileged. Encouraged by his contacts at Art Start, Rolle began developing a potent reputation as rapper Kharma Kazi, and soon he came to realize he wanted to give back to the community that helped lift him out of poverty. With the help of Art Start, Rolle helped found The Hip Hop Project, a workshop for aspiring hip-hop artists. Instead of simply teaching aspiring rappers about rhyming techniques or microphone handling, Rolle and his crew urged them to use rap as a way to speak out about the issues they face in their daily lives rather than rhyming about violence, sex, bling, and the gangsta lifestyle. In time, hip-hop powerhouse Russell Simmons partnered up with movie star Bruce Willis to donate a recording studio to the group, thus enabling the musicians to record and release their own record, HHP Vol. 1: Are You Feelin' Me?, issued in May 2007. The Hip Hop Project is a documentary about Rolle and The Hip Hop Project crew that offers a behind-the-scenes look at their work and their impact on a group of young people eager to hone their musical skills. The film received its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/21/2010
UPC:	0014381635829
Original Release:	2006
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	RLJ ENTERTAINMENT, INC
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:25:00
Sales rank:	44,778

Special Features

Making of The Hip Hop Project; Kazi meets his father; Deleted scenes; Additional performances; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Lord Relic

Composer

Technical Credits

Matt Ruskin	Director,Producer
Bruce Willis	Executive Producer
Queen Latifah	Executive Producer
Scott K. Rosenberg	Producer,Producer
Mona Scott	Executive Producer
Shakim Compere	Executive Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Hip Hop Project
1. The Program [6:36]
2. The People [8:48]
3. What Would You Say? [6:10]
4. Self-Development [4:40]
5. Album Pre-Production [7:22]
6. Personal Stories [14:34]
7. Roots [5:21]
8. Hard Work [10:01]
9. Album Mixing & Mastering [3:47]
10. Healing [8:17]
11. Passing the Baton [6:06]
12. End Credits [3:21]
13. Chapter 13 [:00]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Hip Hop Project
   Play
   Scenes
   Subtitles
      English SDH
      Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Extras
      Featurettes
         The Making of "The Hip Hop Project"
         Kazi Meets His Father
      Deleted Scenes
         Play All
         Lou's Photo Album
         Ty Nitty's Home Tour
         Kazi Visits Auntie Rita
         Lou Rehearses
         Verse Freestyles
      Additional Performances
         Play All
         Cease Fire (Lou and Cannon)
         Dusk Till Dawn (The Hip Hop Project)
         Somethin' (Live Wire)
         A Million (Ki)
      Trailer